*1899: Refusal of the Patriarch of Constantinople to recognise the newly elected Arabic-speaking Patriarch of Antioch and All the East causes a parting of the way between the Greek speaking Orthodox and the Arabic speaking Orthodox around the world including Australia. Russian speaking Orthodox also suffer in the fall-out.

+

*1899: Refusal of the Patriarch of Constantinople to recognise the newly elected Arabic-speaking Patriarch of Antioch and All the East causes a parting of the way between the Greek speaking Orthodox and the Arabic speaking Orthodox around the world including Australia. Russian speaking Orthodox also suffer in the fall-out.

*1902: [[Church of Greece]] takes responsibility for Greek parishes in Australia from the Church of Jerusalem.

+

*1902: [[Church of Greece]] takes responsibility for Greek [[parish]]es in Australia from the Church of Jerusalem.

−

*1903: Fr Nikandros Bettines arrives in Melbourne from Zakynthos, sent by the Archbishop of Athens.

+

*1903: Fr. Nikandros Bettines arrives in Melbourne from Zakynthos, sent by the Archbishop of Athens.

−

*1908: [[Church of Constantinople|Patriarch of Constantinople]] arbitrates and awards jurisdiction of Greek parishes in Australia to the Church of Greece.

+

*1908: [[Church of Constantinople|Patriarch of Constantinople]] arbitrates and awards [[jurisdiction]] of Greek parishes in Australia to the Church of Greece.

−

==Local Exarch==

+

*1913: Fr. Nicholas Shehadie appointed Patriarchal [[Exarch]] for Australia and New Zealand by His Beatitude Gregorious Haddad Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East.

−

*1913: Fr Nicholas Shehadie appointed Patriarchal Exarch for Australia and New Zealand by His Beatitude Gregorious Haddad Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East.

+

*1913: First Exarch of Australia and New Zealand, Fr. Nicholas Shehadie arrives in Sydney and serves as parish priest of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Surry Hills.

−

*1913: First Exarch of Australia and New Zealand, Fr Nicholas Shehadie arrives in Sydney and serves as parish priest of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Surry Hills.

+

*1917: Bolshevik revolution in Russia sees large numbers of Russians and allied peoples displaced and fleeing genocidal massacres there and in satelite countries over the next 10 years. Many flee to western Europe, and then North America, and South America. Others flee to Asian Russia and then to China, Japan, South East Asia, Philippines, and Australasia.

*1917: Bolshevik revolution in Russia sees large numbers of Russians and allied peoples displaced and fleeing genocidal massacres there and in satelite countries over the next 10 years. Many flee to western Europe, and then North America, and South America. Others flee to Asian Russia and then to China, Japan, South East Asia, Philippines, and Australasia.

*1919: Exarchate of Australia and New Zealand is confirmed as permanent by [[Church of Antioch|Patriarch of Antioch]].

*1919: Exarchate of Australia and New Zealand is confirmed as permanent by [[Church of Antioch|Patriarch of Antioch]].

−

*1920 May 23: Foundation stone laid at Walker and Redfern Sts Redfern, Sydney, by the Vicar-General of the Diocese of Sydney, for the first exclusively [[Church of Antioch|Syrian Orthodox]] church in Australia. Right Reverend Father [[Nicholas Shehadie|Nicola Shehade]] becomes pastor of Redfern, and continues as Exarch of Australia and New Zealand.

+

*1920 [[May 23]]: Foundation stone laid at Walker and Redfern Streets Redfern, Sydney, by the Vicar-General of the [[Diocese]] of Sydney, for the first exclusively [[Church of Antioch|Syrian Orthodox]] church in Australia. Right Reverend Father [[Nicholas Shehadie|Nicola Shehade]] becomes pastor of Redfern, and continues as Exarch of Australia and New Zealand.

*1920s: Genocidal massacres in modern Turkey following the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire see millions of people displaced. Large numbers of Orthodox flee to the new world including North America, South America, Australia, New Zealand and Oceania.

*1920s: Genocidal massacres in modern Turkey following the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire see millions of people displaced. Large numbers of Orthodox flee to the new world including North America, South America, Australia, New Zealand and Oceania.

==Local Bishops==

==Local Bishops==

−

*1924 Mar 7: Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Australia and New Zealand established by Ecumenical Patriarchate.

+

*1924 [[March 7]]: Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Australia and New Zealand established by Ecumenical Patriarchate.

−

::Jul 8: Greek Orthodox Metropolitan [[Christoforos (Knitis) of Australia and New Zealand|Christoforos (Knitis)]] of Australia and New Zealand arrives.

+

::[[July 8]]: Greek Orthodox Metropolitan [[Christoforos (Knitis) of Australia and New Zealand|Christoforos (Knitis)]] of Australia and New Zealand arrives.

−

*1925: First Russian church acquired in Brisbane. Was dedicated to St Nicholas.

+

*1925: First Russian church acquired in Brisbane. Was dedicated to St. Nicholas.

*1929: Metropolitan Christoforos (Knitis) deposed, exiled to Samos.

*1929: Metropolitan Christoforos (Knitis) deposed, exiled to Samos.

−

*1931 Sep 18: [[Timotheos (Evangelinidis) of Rhodes|Timotheos (Evangelinidis)]] elected Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Australia and New Zealand by Ecumenical Patriarchate.

+

*1930s<!-- more precise dates, please -->: First Russian Orthodox priest in Sydney, Father Methodious, resides with Antiochian Orthodox family of Anis and Aman Birbara. Until the purchase of a house in Moore Park, and its conversion into a [[church]], [[Archimandrite]] Methodious held all his Sydney services at the Antiochian Orthodox church of St. George Redfern.

*1930s First Russian Orthodox priest in Sydney, Father Methodious, resides with Antiochian Orthodox family of Anis and Aman Birbara. Until the purchase of a house in Moore Park, and its conversion into a church, Archimandrite Methodious held all his Sydney services at the Antiochian Orthodox church of St George Redfern.

+

*1935: Father Nicholas' son [[Michael Shehadie|Michael]] is [[ordination|ordained]] [[deacon]], then priest, on behalf of the Patriarch of Antioch, by Metropolitan Timotheos.

−

*1947 Apr 22: Archimandrite [[Theophylactos (Papathanasopoulos) of Australia and New Zealand|Theophylactos (Papathanasopoulos)]] elected Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Australia and New Zealand by Ecumenical Patriarchate.

+

*1936: First Orthodox church established in Western Australia, under Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, dedicated to Ss. Constantine and Helen.

−

*1948 Nov: First [[ROCOR|Russian Orthodox]] [[Bishop]] [[Theodore (Rafalsky) of Sydney|Theodore (Rafalsky)]] arrives in Australia. He studied theology in Russia before World War I with Sydney's Antiochian Orthodox priest Fr Michael Shehadie.

+

*1947 [[April 22]]: Archimandrite [[Theophylactos (Papathanasopoulos) of Australia and New Zealand|Theophylactos (Papathanasopoulos)]] elected Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Australia and New Zealand by Ecumenical Patriarchate.

*1948 Nov: First [[ROCOR|Russian Orthodox]] [[Bishop]] [[Theodore (Rafalsky) of Sydney|Theodore (Rafalsky)]] arrives in Australia. He studied theology in Russia before World War I with Sydney's Antiochian Orthodox priest Fr. Michael Shehadie.

−

*1949: First [[Serbian Orthodox Church in Australia and New Zealand|Serbian Orthodox]] services held by Fr Sv. Sekulic.

*1964-1969 Father Nicolas Mansour is Patriarchal Vicar-General of the Antiochian Orthodox Church in Australia and New Zealand

+

*1964-1969 Fr. Nicolas Mansour is Patriarchal Vicar-General of the Antiochian Orthodox Church in Australia and New Zealand

*1965: Second Greek Orthodox Clergy-Laity Congress held in Sydney.

*1965: Second Greek Orthodox Clergy-Laity Congress held in Sydney.

*1967: Father Nicolas Mansour appointed Exarch of Antiochian Orthodox Church in Australia and New Zealand, bestowed with pectoral cross and adorned with it by Greek Orthodox Archbishop Ezekiel at request of Patriarch Ignatius of Antioch

*1967: Father Nicolas Mansour appointed Exarch of Antiochian Orthodox Church in Australia and New Zealand, bestowed with pectoral cross and adorned with it by Greek Orthodox Archbishop Ezekiel at request of Patriarch Ignatius of Antioch

−

+

==New Generation of Bishops==

*1969: Archimandrite [[Gibran (Ramlawey) of Australia and New Zealand|Gibran (Ramlawey)]] dispatched from USA by Patriarch Ignatius of Antioch to investigate future of Antiochian Orthodox Church in Australasia.

*1969: Archimandrite [[Gibran (Ramlawey) of Australia and New Zealand|Gibran (Ramlawey)]] dispatched from USA by Patriarch Ignatius of Antioch to investigate future of Antiochian Orthodox Church in Australasia.

−

::Oct: Antiochian Orthodox Diocese of Australasia established by Holy Synod of Antioch.

+

::October: Antiochian Orthodox Diocese of Australasia established by [[Holy Synod]] of Antioch.

−

::Nov: First Antiochian Orthodox hierarch, Bishop [[Gibran (Ramlawey) of Australia and New Zealand|Gibran (Ramlawey)]] of [[Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand|Australasia]], returns to Australia and commences duties as Patriarchal Vicar of Australia and New Zealand.

+

::November: First Antiochian Orthodox hierarch, Bishop [[Gibran (Ramlawey) of Australia and New Zealand|Gibran (Ramlawey)]] of [[Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand|Australasia]], returns to Australia and commences duties as Patriarchal [[Vicar]] of Australia and New Zealand.

::Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Iakovos of Philadelphia arrives as [[Exarch]] of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to investigate future of Greek Orthodox Church in Australia and in New Zealand.

::Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Iakovos of Philadelphia arrives as [[Exarch]] of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to investigate future of Greek Orthodox Church in Australia and in New Zealand.

*1970: Sister Dorothea places St Basil's Homes for the Aged under the patronage of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.

*1970: Sister Dorothea places St Basil's Homes for the Aged under the patronage of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.

−

::Jan: New Zealand is separated from the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia]], and becomes a separate [[Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Zealand]] with jurisdiction over Southeast Asia, Japan and Korea.

+

::January: New Zealand is separated from the [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia]], and becomes a separate [[Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Zealand]] with jurisdiction over Southeast Asia, Japan and Korea.

*1971 [[OCA|Orthodox Church in America]] presence begins in Australia with reception of one disaffected [[ROCOR]] parish in Bankstown, New South Wales, along with three priests.

*1971 [[OCA|Orthodox Church in America]] presence begins in Australia with reception of one disaffected [[ROCOR]] parish in Bankstown, New South Wales, along with three priests.

::Simultaneously [[Church of Poland|Polish Orthodox]] presence begins in Australia with reception of a disaffected priest from ROCOR.

::Simultaneously [[Church of Poland|Polish Orthodox]] presence begins in Australia with reception of a disaffected priest from ROCOR.

*1972: Third Greek Orthodox Clergy-Laity Congress held in Sydney.

*1972: Third Greek Orthodox Clergy-Laity Congress held in Sydney.

−

::Dec 20: First [[Church of Romania|Romanian Orthodox]] parish established in Carlton, Melbourne. Dedicated to Ss Peter and Paul.

+

::[[December 20]]: First [[Church of Romania|Romanian Orthodox]] parish established in Carlton, Melbourne. Dedicated to Ss. Peter and Paul.

−

*1974: Bishop Nikolai (Mrdja), elected First [[Serbian Orthodox Church in Australia and New Zealand|Serbian Orthodox]] hierarch for Australia.

+

*1974: Bishop Nikolai (Mrdja), elected First [[Serbian Orthodox Church in Australia and New Zealand|Serbian Orthodox]] hierarch for Australia; enthroned December 30.

−

:: Bishop Nikolai (Mrdja), First [[Serbian Orthodox Church in Australia and New Zealand|Serbian Orthodox]] hierarch for Australia arrives in Australia.

*1982: First Greek Orthodox National Youth Conference held at University of Melbourne. Resolution passed to hold Greek Orthodox National Youth Conferences every second year thereafter, with Greek Orthodox State Youth Conferences held on the alternate year.

*1982: First Greek Orthodox National Youth Conference held at University of Melbourne. Resolution passed to hold Greek Orthodox National Youth Conferences every second year thereafter, with Greek Orthodox State Youth Conferences held on the alternate year.

:::Fourth National Youth Conference (Greek Orthodox) held in Melbourne

+

:::Moscow Patriarchate established second parish in Sydney.

:::Moscow Patriarchate established second parish in Sydney.

−

*1991: Fifth National Youth Conference (Greek Orthodox) held in Adelaide.

+

*1991-94: [[Schism]] occurs from Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia. [[Church of Jerusalem|Patriarchate of Jerusalem]] accepts schismatic parishes and begins jurisdiction in Australia. Great protests from Archbishop Stylianos and Patriarch [[Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Constantinople|Bartholomew]] ensue, culminating in an expanded Greek-speaking synod and the [[excommunication]] of the bishops that went to Australia. Jerusalem withdraws from Australia, causing those parishes either to unite to local schismatic bishops or to join old-calendarist synods.

−

*1991-94: Schism occurs in Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia. [[Church of Jerusalem|Patriarchate of Jerusalem]] accepts schismatic parishes and begins jurisdiction in Australia. Great protests from Archbishop Stylianos and Patriarch [[Bartholomew I (Archontonis) of Constantinople|Bartholomew]] ensue, culminating in an expanded Greek-speaking synod and the excommunication of the bishops that went to Australia. Jerusalem withdraws from Australia, parishes form (with Bp Paul of Christianopolis), or join, old-calendarist synods.

+

*1992: First visit of an Orthodox Patriarch to Australasia. Patriarch [[Ignatius IV (Hazim) of Antioch|Ignatius IV of Antioch]] and All the East visits the Antiochian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand.

*1999: Australia and New Zealand raised to the status of an Archdiocese by the Holy Synod of Antioch and All the East.

+

::March: The Antiochian Orthodox Diocese of Australasia raised to the status of Archdiocese by Holy Synod of Antioch and All the East.

−

::Archimandrite Paul Saliba, parish priest in Washington DC, USA, elected Metropolitan Archbishop of Australia, New Zealand and All Oceania by the Holy Synod of Antioch.

+

::September: Archimandrite Paul Saliba, parish priest in Washington DC, USA, elected Metropolitan Archbishop of Australia and New Zealand by the Holy Synod of Antioch.

*2002: [[St. Andrew's Orthodox Press]] established to publish ''The Greek-Australian Vema'', the official newspaper of the Archdiocese.

*2002: [[St. Andrew's Orthodox Press]] established to publish ''The Greek-Australian Vema'', the official newspaper of the Archdiocese.

−

*2006: St. Andrew's Orthodox Press publishes ''The Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom''.

+

*2003: The Hobart Schism. The Greek Orthodox Community in Hobart (formed prior to the 1970s) ask a schismatic [[clergy]]man to replace their rector; the incumbent rector founds new parish, excommunicating all Greek Orthodox in Hobart that did not follow him. The schism was later healed when the Community returned to the Archdiocese, leaving two parishes in Hobart.

−

*2007: Eighth National Youth Conference (Greek Orthodox) to be held in Brisbane.

+

*2004: Permanent Romanian Orthodox priest in Western Australia.

+

*2006: St. Andrew's Orthodox Press publishes ''The Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom'' in hardback.

+

:October: Bishop [[Irinej_%28Dobrijevic%29_of_Australia_and_New_Zealand|Irenej]] succeeds Bishop [[Milutin (Knezevic) of Valjevo|Milutin]] as the [[Serbian Orthodox Church in Australia and New Zealand|Serbian Orthodox Bishop]] of Australia and New Zealand.

+

*2008: [[Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand]] established, led by Bishop [[Michael (Filimon)|Mihail (Filimon) of Australia and New Zealand]].

+

*2010: First Episcopal Assembly of Bishop in Oceania. Divine Liturgy concelebrated by bishops from Greek (Australia and New Zealand), Antiochian, ROCOR, Serbian and Romanian dioceses and archdioceses, followed by meeting and a declaration issued. Bishops met annually after this.

+

:[[Nikanor (Savic)]] of Athos, Australia and New Zealand glorified by the Church of Serbia.

+

*2011: Archimandrite [[Iakovos (Tsigounis) of Militoupolis|Iakovos (Tsigounis)]] elected Bishop of Militoupoleos, auxiliary to Archbishop Stylianos in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.

+

*2012 Apr: First 'synaxis' of all canonical priests of Victoria, with bishops, at Oakleigh, Melbourne.

+

*2013 Jan: The end of the [[Australian jurisdictions without a local bishop|OCA]] presence in Australia (with the repose of Fr Ian Bojko in Brisbane).

+

:May: First concelebration of bishops and priests from most canonical jurisdictions of the Episcopal Assembly, commemorating the Edict of Milan.

Patriarch of Jerusalem considered neutral in this dispute and asked by community churches to send out priests for Australia and New Zealand.

The Church of Jerusalem appoints Fr. Seraphim Phocas to Sydney and Fr. Athanasios Kantopoulos to Melbourne.

1899: Refusal of the Patriarch of Constantinople to recognise the newly elected Arabic-speaking Patriarch of Antioch and All the East causes a parting of the way between the Greek speaking Orthodox and the Arabic speaking Orthodox around the world including Australia. Russian speaking Orthodox also suffer in the fall-out.

1913: Fr. Nicholas Shehadie appointed Patriarchal Exarch for Australia and New Zealand by His Beatitude Gregorious Haddad Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East.

1913: First Exarch of Australia and New Zealand, Fr. Nicholas Shehadie arrives in Sydney and serves as parish priest of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Surry Hills.

1917: Bolshevik revolution in Russia sees large numbers of Russians and allied peoples displaced and fleeing genocidal massacres there and in satelite countries over the next 10 years. Many flee to western Europe, and then North America, and South America. Others flee to Asian Russia and then to China, Japan, South East Asia, Philippines, and Australasia.

1920 May 23: Foundation stone laid at Walker and Redfern Streets Redfern, Sydney, by the Vicar-General of the Diocese of Sydney, for the first exclusively Syrian Orthodox church in Australia. Right Reverend Father Nicola Shehade becomes pastor of Redfern, and continues as Exarch of Australia and New Zealand.

1920s: Genocidal massacres in modern Turkey following the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire see millions of people displaced. Large numbers of Orthodox flee to the new world including North America, South America, Australia, New Zealand and Oceania.

Local Bishops

1924 March 7: Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Australia and New Zealand established by Ecumenical Patriarchate.

1925: First Russian church acquired in Brisbane. Was dedicated to St. Nicholas.

1929: Metropolitan Christoforos (Knitis) deposed, exiled to Samos.

1930s: First Russian Orthodox priest in Sydney, Father Methodious, resides with Antiochian Orthodox family of Anis and Aman Birbara. Until the purchase of a house in Moore Park, and its conversion into a church, Archimandrite Methodious held all his Sydney services at the Antiochian Orthodox church of St. George Redfern.

September 1: The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Australia and New Zealand becomes the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand, and Metropolitan Ezekiel becomes Archbishop.

1961: St Andrew's Brotherhood set up by Archbishop Ezekiel for the improvement of Greek Orthodox Archdiocesan services.

January: First Greek Orthodox Clergy-Laity Congress held in Sydney.

June 19: Land purchased for Greek Orthodox St George Monastery, Springwood.

1964-1969 Fr. Nicolas Mansour is Patriarchal Vicar-General of the Antiochian Orthodox Church in Australia and New Zealand

1965: Second Greek Orthodox Clergy-Laity Congress held in Sydney.

1967: Father Nicolas Mansour appointed Exarch of Antiochian Orthodox Church in Australia and New Zealand, bestowed with pectoral cross and adorned with it by Greek Orthodox Archbishop Ezekiel at request of Patriarch Ignatius of Antioch

New Generation of Bishops

1969: Archimandrite Gibran (Ramlawey) dispatched from USA by Patriarch Ignatius of Antioch to investigate future of Antiochian Orthodox Church in Australasia.

October: Antiochian Orthodox Diocese of Australasia established by Holy Synod of Antioch.

November: First Antiochian Orthodox hierarch, Bishop Gibran (Ramlawey) of Australasia, returns to Australia and commences duties as Patriarchal Vicar of Australia and New Zealand.

Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Iakovos of Philadelphia arrives as Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to investigate future of Greek Orthodox Church in Australia and in New Zealand.

1970: Sister Dorothea places St Basil's Homes for the Aged under the patronage of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese.

1982: First Greek Orthodox National Youth Conference held at University of Melbourne. Resolution passed to hold Greek Orthodox National Youth Conferences every second year thereafter, with Greek Orthodox State Youth Conferences held on the alternate year.

1991-94: Schism occurs from Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia. Patriarchate of Jerusalem accepts schismatic parishes and begins jurisdiction in Australia. Great protests from Archbishop Stylianos and Patriarch Bartholomew ensue, culminating in an expanded Greek-speaking synod and the excommunication of the bishops that went to Australia. Jerusalem withdraws from Australia, causing those parishes either to unite to local schismatic bishops or to join old-calendarist synods.

1992: First visit of an Orthodox Patriarch to Australasia. Patriarch Ignatius IV of Antioch and All the East visits the Antiochian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand.

2003: The Hobart Schism. The Greek Orthodox Community in Hobart (formed prior to the 1970s) ask a schismatic clergyman to replace their rector; the incumbent rector founds new parish, excommunicating all Greek Orthodox in Hobart that did not follow him. The schism was later healed when the Community returned to the Archdiocese, leaving two parishes in Hobart.

2004: Permanent Romanian Orthodox priest in Western Australia.

2006: St. Andrew's Orthodox Press publishes The Divine Liturgy of our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom in hardback.

2010: First Episcopal Assembly of Bishop in Oceania. Divine Liturgy concelebrated by bishops from Greek (Australia and New Zealand), Antiochian, ROCOR, Serbian and Romanian dioceses and archdioceses, followed by meeting and a declaration issued. Bishops met annually after this.

Nikanor (Savic) of Athos, Australia and New Zealand glorified by the Church of Serbia.

2011: Archimandrite Iakovos (Tsigounis) elected Bishop of Militoupoleos, auxiliary to Archbishop Stylianos in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.

2012 Apr: First 'synaxis' of all canonical priests of Victoria, with bishops, at Oakleigh, Melbourne.

2013 Jan: The end of the OCA presence in Australia (with the repose of Fr Ian Bojko in Brisbane).

May: First concelebration of bishops and priests from most canonical jurisdictions of the Episcopal Assembly, commemorating the Edict of Milan.

Sources

Chryssavgis, Fr M., & Chryssavgis, Fr J., Persons and Events in Orthodoxy: Historical Moments in the development of Orthodox Christianity (with a chapter on Australian Orthodoxy), Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, 1985.